08 September,2026 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya Iyer
The two men claimed they had a solution to fix Goldar’s problems. PIC/AI GENERATED
A bizarre religious ruse left a 50-year-old Bhandup woman without gold jewellery worth Rs 45,000. Police say the incident points to a specific gang using this modus operandi to target unsuspecting victims.
According to Bhandup police, Anjana Sukumar Goldar was returning home from the market around 1.30 pm on August 27 when she was approached by a man wearing a white shirt near Sushma Beauty Parlour on Tembipada Road, Narayan Nagar. The man initially asked her about a doctor's camp. When Goldar told him she did not know about it, he stopped her again and began telling her that she was fortunate and had the blessings of goddess Mahalakshmi.
[popcorn number="Rs 45,000" desc="Total estimated value of jewellery" class="Default"]
The man then told her that something had gone wrong, God was unhappy with her, and that something was not right at her home. He offered to give her a "solution" that would make things better. While the two were speaking, another man, described as having a darker complexion, joined them. He supported the first man's claims and told Goldar that what his associate was saying was true.
The first man then allegedly told Goldar that he was like her son and asked her for a bottle of water. Goldar and the second man went to Welcome Sweet Shop nearby, bought a bottle of water, and handed it to him. The man then took out Rs 500 notes from the second man's pocket, handed them to Goldar, and asked the second man to walk 71 steps.
The accused then told Goldar to walk 71 steps ahead and return, assuring her that she too would be able to see Mahalakshmi. But when she completed the 71 steps and turned around, both men had disappeared. She returned home and told her son about the incident. The family searched the neighbourhood for the men before approaching the police. A case has been registered under BNS.
The police have warned citizens to be particularly cautious of strangers who approach them with claims of divine blessings, religious solutions, or promises of changing their fortunes. Officials say the Bhandup incident is linked to a specific gang using such tricks to gain victims' confidence before relieving them of their valuables. Similar cases have been previously reported in the Vikhroli and Parksite area.
After walking the distance and returning, the second man allegedly claimed that he had seen Mahalakshmi. The first man then told Goldar that she could also see the goddess if she followed his instructions. He asked her to hand over her money. When she told him she didn't have any, he instructed to remove her gold chain, bangles, and ring and hand them over. She complied.
Item Weight Value
Gold chain 13 gm Rs 26,000
Gold bangles 7gm Rs 13,000
Gold ring 3 gm Rs 6000
